Ravichandran Ashwin has taken spin bowling to another level. India needed a quality spinner in the wake of Anil Kumble’s retirement and Harbhajan Singh’s dip in form. While Ashwin didn’t get instant success, over a period of time he developed into a top-class off spinner. He followed the path of Kumble in giving up a flourishing engineering career to pursue cricket.

Ashwin enjoyed a brilliant 2006-07 debut domestic season with Tamil Nadu. However, the off-spinner showed his mettle during his comeback in 2008, first with Chennai in the Indian T20 league and then with stellar performances for Tamil Nadu with both bat and ball.

After having made it to the ODI team in early 2010, Ashwin wasn't a part of the playing eleven initially. But with his exploits in the Indian T20 league, he was awarded another chance and he responded with a quickfire 38 on debut against Sri Lanka. He was given a surprise entry into the 15-member Indian team for the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup as a supporting spinner to the then spearhead, Harbhajan Singh.

Ashwin enjoyed a dream Test debut, picking up nine wickets against West Indies, the second best match figures for an Indian bowler on debut, behind Narendra Hirwani's 16. The development and use of the carrom ball by Ashwin gave him a sharper edge. An opening batsman by aspiration, Ashwin couldn't realise that goal but turned into an important all-rounder for India, especially in Tests with two centuries against West Indies.

Early in 2017, Ashwin surpassed the Aussie legend Dennis Lillee by becoming the fastest player to reach 250 wickets (in 45 Tests). With 82 wickets in the 2016-17 season, he went past Dale Steyn’s record for the most scalps in a single season.

Besides being a great bowler, Ashwin is very effective as a batsman and finished 2016 as the No.1 Test all-rounder in the ICC rankings before being toppled by Shakib Al Hasan in March 2017. Often with centuries and half-centuries, especially in Tests, he has spoiled many an opposition team’s party. India’s spin future is in great hands with Ashwin around!